Chapter

As for the sensory proofs of prophethood—those that can be witnessed with the very eyes—they are of two kinds: celestial and terrestrial. Foremost among them all is the splitting of the radiant moon into two halves.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split. Yet whenever they see a sign they turn away and say, ‘Persistent magic.’ They have denied the truth and followed their own desires, while every matter reaches its appointed end. There has already come to them accounts containing deterrence—perfect wisdom—but the warnings avail them not.” (Q 54:1–5)

The scholars, along with the leading imams, are unanimously agreed that the splitting of the moon occurred during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The ḥadiths affirming this have been transmitted through chains that confer certainty upon the entire Ummah.

Narration of Anas ibn Mālik:
Imām Aḥmad said: “ʿAbd al-Razzāq related to us; Maʿmar related to us, from Qatādah, from Anas, who said: ‘The people of Mecca asked the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—for a sign, and the moon split in Mecca twice.’ He then recited, ‘The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split’ (Q 54:1).”

Muslim also recorded it, from Muḥammad ibn Rāfiʿ, from ʿAbd al-Razzāq.

Al-Bukhārī said: “ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb narrated to me; Bishr ibn al-Mufaḍḍal narrated to us; Saʿīd ibn Abī ʿArūbah narrated to us, from Qatādah, from Anas ibn Mālik, that the people of Mecca asked the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—to show them a sign, so he showed them the moon split in two until they saw Mount Ḥirāʾ between the halves.”

The two Shaykhs (al-Bukhārī and Muslim) also included it in their Ṣaḥīḥs through the narration of Shaybān from Qatādah, and Muslim through the narration of Shuʿbah from Qatādah.

Narration of Jubayr ibn Muṭʿim:
Imām Aḥmad said: “Muḥammad ibn Kathīr related to us; Sulaymān ibn Kathīr narrated to us, from Ḥuṣayn ibn…"